Virtual Worlds Forum

I'm perched at the back of the room for the conference, having located a free plug socket and fought off all-comers to nab it. The room's full, and it's been a really interesting morning. Lord Puttnam kicked the event off with a keynote speech, which he said he'll be publishing in full online later to get the full message across. Which at least gives me licence to pick out the highlights. As a broadcasting luminary, he had words on the TV industry's approach towards virtual worlds and games. "Broadcast media is beginning to look rather incomplete. The industry should be worried about its failure to engage more with the virtual world." He went on to say that while television and virtual worlds were expected to converge, instead the convergence has come from other forms of interactive media, like social networks and online games. He also suggested that if games developers and virtual world makers want government aid, they must include educational capabilities and prove that their products have "unique cultural value". And he also warned against kneejerk reactions when virtual worlds and online games are accused of fostering addiction among their users. The key is getting behind serious, nuanced research. There was lots more, including a prediction that it won't be long before someone accused of a serious crime blames a virtual world. But assuming his presentation does go up online in full, I'll link to that then.